Chapter 34: Heading to the Rotwolf Plains

"Begin!"

As soon as Zhang Ran’s words fell, the four dire wolves in the distance immediately resumed their mobility restrictions. Their eyes glinted with ferocity as their powerful legs kicked off the ground, transforming into fleeting shadows that attacked Zhang Ran from all four directions.

Facing the oncoming wolves, Zhang Ran’s mind raced as he calculated the flaws and gaps in their assault, all the while wielding his military dagger in desperate defense.

After all, this was only a simulated battle. Even if Zhang Ran were wounded or killed, his body and mind would remain unharmed. That knowledge made him fearless as he fought, sharpening his will and spirit at the edge of life and death.

"Damn it, it’s still not enough!"

After thirty exchanges, Zhang Ran had exhausted all his skills, yet still ended up grievously injured and unable to go on. One dire wolf leapt from the distance, raised its sharp claws, and struck his head.

A rush of wind swept past as the blow landed. An indescribable pain flooded his senses, but it vanished as quickly as it came, and darkness claimed his vision.

When he opened his eyes again, Zhang Ran found himself back in the preparation space, his injuries gone as if they had never been. Yet the memory of death, though he knew it was only simulated, set his heart pounding.

"I really did overestimate myself. Facing four dire wolves, I could only severely wound one before being killed by the others. But only in such extreme conditions can I truly hone my battle instincts. Again!"

After a brief rest and some reflection on his mistakes, Zhang Ran restarted the trial. With a thought, he reentered the simulation and bravely faced the wolves once more.

Once, twice... six times!

By the sixth attempt, Zhang Ran was able to kill one wolf and severely injure another before dying. But then, the chip notified him that his mental strength was too depleted to sustain the simulation. He exited the virtual battleground and opened his eyes in the real world.

The prolonged simulation had left him dizzy and groggy. While the simulated space left no aftereffects, it consumed his mental energy, and his current drowsiness was a natural consequence of that depletion.

"Time to rest for a bit."

He went to the living quarters, spent his last fifty Black Hawk coins on dinner, and returned to his room. Lying on the bed, he quickly fell into a deep sleep.

...

The next morning, at five thirty.

A special signal from the chip roused Zhang Ran from his slumber. He pulled a tube of high-energy food from his rucksack, squeezed it into his mouth, and ate.

By the time he finished, it was still not yet six o’clock. The base gates remained closed, so Zhang Ran entered the simulation space again to continue his training.

Unlike yesterday, today he didn’t limit himself to the level-2 alloy dagger. With a thought, he summoned an AM41 automatic rifle and fifty rounds of ammunition in the preparation space before entering the combat scene.

The four dire wolves attacked from all directions as before, but this time Zhang Ran broke out of their encirclement with long strides, found a safe spot, and raised his AM41, unleashing a hail of bullets.

Flames leapt from the barrel as the AM41 spat out hundreds of rounds per minute. In a matter of seconds, the magazine was emptied, and bullets tore through the wolves before him. Blood burst forth as their bodies were shredded and pierced, limbs stiffening before collapsing limply to the ground, lifeless.

"Though it's external power, firearms are truly mankind's great invention. With them, I can easily slay enemies once insurmountable."

Back in the preparation space, Zhang Ran reflected on his victory with a silent sigh, then exited the simulation, returning to reality without challenging more wolves.

With the AM41, it made little difference whether there were four, five, or even ten dire wolves. Unless they managed to trap him, as long as he could gain some distance, he could mow them down with the rifle. The only drawback was the heavy ammunition consumption. Against a swarm, single shots were inefficient—he had to rely on bursts, quickly exhausting his bullets. Therefore, Zhang Ran decided to save his ammunition for emergencies. When facing just one or two wolves, he would still use cold weapons to kill them.

At last, the time reached six o’clock. Amid the grinding of gears and the roar of engines, the base’s massive iron gates slowly opened, and Zhang Ran once again stepped into the wilderness.

"Chip, analyze and mark the optimal hunting grounds and routes for dire wolves!"

Leaving the forward base, Zhang Ran blinked to adjust to the brightness, then issued his command.

"Ding! Command received, beginning search..."

"Ding! Search complete. The optimal hunting grounds have been marked on the virtual map, and the best route is now plotted!"

Within two seconds, the chip completed its task. At the notification, a simulated map appeared before Zhang Ran’s eyes.

Compared to when he first arrived at the base, the map constructed by the chip was now far more detailed. In all the areas he had explored, the old schematic had been replaced by accurate real-world imagery. Several purple light pillars stood at the map's corners, marking the locations where dire wolves were frequently seen.

"I’ll start with the closest one. Begin navigation!"

With a thought, Zhang Ran selected the nearest wolf gathering point and set off.

Unlike the rabid field mouse prairie, this wolf den was in the opposite direction but was also about ten kilometers from the base. The terrain was a broad plain, which Zhang Ran named "Dire Wolf Plain."